EVERYWHERE you turn there is a kiosk where people stand reading something that looks like a newspaper or staring intensely at a big white chart, it is also noticeable at street corners too. A terminal operator types in numbers and collects the money from his buyer and then gives him a ticket with numbers or at a corner you see both men and women, young and old staring at a big white chart with numbers and letters written on it.
Many see it as a means of making quick cash; others see it as detrimental, leading to addiction but whichever way, the popularity of Premier Lotto or Baba Ijebu as it is widely known, cannot be overemphasized.
Premier Lotto Limited, is a gaming company that was incorporated in 2001 and established to carry out the Lotto business in Nigeria, by the founder, Chief Adebutu Kessignton. Baba Ijebu is a game of chance or luck; you either win or lose.
In this game, there is what is called permutation and two sure in permutation. You play with numbers ranging from one to 90 where you select five numbers to play, five lucky numbers will be rolled out, if you have two or more numbers you win depending on what numbers the machine produces.
For instance, if you choose to play the numbers 62, 43, 31, 88 and 69 and the machine brings out 55, 9, 62, 31 and 22 you win with the numbers 62 and 31, the amount you are given further depends on the amount used to stake these numbers, if you used N20 to stake, you win N4, 800.
While in two sure or two direct as it is popularly called, if you play two single numbers (2, 6) at N50 you win N12, 000. The N50, which is used to stake the numbers will be multiplied by 1, 200 and will give you N12, 000, which is the amount you win. The higher you stake the higher the amount won, that is if the numbers staked are winning numbers produced by the machine.
In Baba Ijebu, there are different games played on different days these include, Ghana and Nigeria games. Ghana games include; Monday special, Lucky G, Bonanza, Mid-Week, Fortune, Mark II, Diamond, Gold, National, 20 percent of the profit is given to the terminal operator, while the Nigeria game are, Enugu, Pre-Lucky, Bingo, Metro, Inter, Pre 06, Jackpot, Club master, Super, VAC and Club chance which is used to identify and differentiate each games.
For example, Tuesday morning, Pre 06 was played, Jackpot in the afternoon, in the evening Club master and Lucky G, which is played all over the country.
This game is played everywhere as far as Baba Ijebu is concerned, anywhere you see the terminal, the same game is played. It’s begin and ends at the same time, it usually begins by 7:00 in the morning and closes by 10pm in the evening, the result of the day will be given by 11pm in the evening. As the result comes out another game begins, the time is also programmed in the machine. If you win, you then go to Baba Ijebu office with your ticket to proof that you indeed played and won, in return you get your winning money.
It might sound easy to the ears but it is not as easy as that, one has to meticulously study a chart which is produced every week, this chart helps the player to predict the five lucky numbers to be played that week, I bet you if people study their books the way they study this chart then there will be less illiterates in Nigeria. The young, old, men and women could stand for hours staring intensely at tiny numbers in a big chart just to predict the next winning numbers for a game.
The percentage of winning big is the same as the percentage of losing big, it is a high-risk game and only those with a strong heart are considered to play it.
The game seems to be one fair game of chance but many are the perceptions surrounding the game. It looks as a form of addiction and a way to waste money that obviously is not in abundance; also as a way to make easy cash too.
Lanre Gbadamosi, a 26-year-old graduate who operates the terminal said he prefers working as a terminal operator than working elsewhere. “I graduated four years ago after studying Computer Engineering in Obafemi Awolowo University, but I find this work so easy and I also play. As an operator, I earn N70, 000 in a month, at times N100, 000 depending on the sales I make. Five years ago I won N1.2 million where I just played N5, 000. It won’t be easy for me to work in companies because of what I earn here and I have my family and friends that I cater for”.
Whereas Gbenga Olubide thinks otherwise, “ This game is morally wrong in the sight of God. Aside from religion it is not something one should totally depend on as it draws people into it. It is not a right way of making money, it is gambling,” he said.
Many earn their living from playing the game of luck and they use the money derived to fend for their household.
Mariam Ekong, a petty trader and a mother of four, says she plays the game to take care of her kids. “ As a mother with four children and married to a taxi driver who earns little I have to find every means possible to provide for my kids, I thank God for Baba Ijebu, it is legal and I believe God is using this means to provide for my family and I because since I started one year ago I have been winning big even though I lose I don’t lose so much”.
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